Samsung Electronics unveiled a smartwatch on Wednesday that works as an accessory to its Galaxy smartphones, with a small screen offering basic functions like photos, hands-free calls and instant messaging.

The company hopes the Galaxy Gear will boost the appeal of its range of Android-powered smartphones, as it battles to maintain its supremacy in the high-end mobile market against arch rival Apple.

"Samsung GALAXY Gear frees users from the need to constantly check their smart devices while maintaining connections. It provides what we call 'smart freedom,' by allowing users to choose how, why, when and where they are connected," said JK Shin, CEO and President of IT & Mobile Division, Samsung Electronics.

The smartwatch features a 1.63-inch screen as well as a basic camera, and will connect to Samsung's latest Galaxy Note 3 smartphone via wireless Bluetooth technology. It will make calls, display messages, record videos and snap photos, all while the user's phone stays in their pocket or handbag.

Apple and Google are also believed to be working on their own wrist-worn devices in what analysts expect to be the next phase of the mobile communications boom.

The Gear, which will go on sale later this month for $299, doesn't have a flexible or curved display. Instead, its OLED touch screen features half the picture quality of high-end smartphone displays and the camera nestling in the strap has only 1.9-megapixels.

Battery life has improved to over 27 hours under Samsung's normal-use tests.

Samsung GALAXY Gear notifies users of incoming messages, such as calls, texts, emails and alerts, delivers a preview of those messages and creates the opportunity for users to accept or discreetly ignore those messages. When an incoming message requires more than a quick glance, users can simply pick up their Samsung GALAXY devices and theSmart Relay feature will instantly reveal the full content on the screen.

The built-in speaker allows users to conduct hands-free calls directly from the Gear, maintaining connections to their mobile communications without disrupting their daily routines. Users can also draft messages, create new calendar entries, set alarms, and check the weather on the GALAXY Gear with S Voice.

In addition, with the Memographer feature, a 1.9 Megapixel camera, users who are on the move or participating in physical activities can record both photos and video to create visual records of important information or events from their daily lives, as well as share them on their social networks. Extending the quick-record concept, Voice Memo lets users capture important thoughts or conversations from their wrists and save those voice recordings into texts on their Samsung GALAXY devices.

New security enhancement Auto Lock automatically secures the companion smartphone screen any time that GALAXY Gear is more than 1.5 meters away from the smartphone, and then unlocks the smartphone when the companion devices are near each other again. Find My Device helps users find the location of their smart devices when they have been misplaced by making them beep, illuminate and vibrate. With Samsung GALAXY Gear, users can also control the music played on their Samsung GALAXY devices. As with traditional music players, it helps users browse, play and pause songs even when their smart device is not within reach. Finally, the GALAXY Gear also works like a Pedometer to track physical activity via enhanced, built-in sensor technology. This feature systematically and automatically monitors users so they can track key personal data such as calories burned, steps taken and distance covered.

GALAXY Gear will also come preloaded with 10 different clock options and more choices will be downloadable via Samsung Apps.

Samsung also unveiled the latest version of the Galaxy Note phone-tablet at its Galaxy unpacked event in Berlin, before the opening of IFA, Europe's biggest consumer electronics trade fair.

The new phone features an even bigger 5.7-inch, high-definition screen, improved stylus functions, a 13-megapixel rear camera and faster data connection than the conventional 4G network.

In addition to technological advancements, Samsung GALAXY Note 3 adds a soft and textured-touch back cover and delicate stitching. It also features a serration pattern on the side of the device that evokes a connection to the timeless and enduring strengths of classic notebooks and planners. Samsung GALAXY Note 3 will be available in Jet Black, Classic White and Blush Pink. Samsung will also offer exchangeable back covers in dozens of additional colors at launch.

The new S Pen is providing the ability to accomplish everyday tasks with just one click. The S Pen is designed to be fully functional as a communication driver between the phone and the user by creating essential input and control features.

A simple click of the S Pen button while hovering over the screen introduces users to Air Command, a palette of five features that truly make tasks easier and faster. With the Air Command feature, there is no need to toggle between screens, memorize commands or look up different menus. The Air Command feature provides access to the following key functions:

- Action Memo allows users to handwrite a note, and automatically execute a function or convert that handwritten information into formatted content. Action Memo can instantly initiate a call, add to contacts, look up an address on a map, search the web, save a task to a to-do list, and more

- Scrapbook enables users to organize or track down content and information from various sources including the web, YouTube and Gallery in one place so that users can easily look back at collected content all at once. When consumers save content for future use, Scrapbook also collects source material or URLs allowing them to easily refer back to the original source.

- The Screen Write feature captures the full screen image of the current page on the device and allows users to write comments or additional information onto the captured image.

- S Finder allows users to expansively search for content on their device regardless of the type. By putting in keywords or filters such as date, location, and content type, users can search related documents, events, communication threads, and even the Help page ? all in one place. In addition, users can also search for hand-written content in their Notes and memo applications, as well as symbols and formulas.

- Pen Window allows users to use the S Pen not only for drawing sketches or writing notes, but now also for opening a small application window for a true multitasking experience. Simply by drawing a window of any size, anywhere on the screen, users can easily and quickly open another application window such as YouTube, calculator or Browser without pausing current activity on the screen.

- With the new Multi Window, users can toggle seamlessly between applications without closing the window or opening a new page
- Users can also run one application in two windows at the same time.
- In addition, using Drag and Drop mode within the new Multi Window, users can easily drag and drop content such as a text or image from one window to the other in an instant.

An improvement to Group Play, video sharing, is now available. Originally introduced along with the GALAXY S4, Group Play allows users to play the same music, to play games together, and to share documents. It now enables users to share videos and play content together with their friends simultaneously. Users can also connect up to five devices alongside each other.

The new GALAXY Note 3 comes with enhanced privacy and security protection provided by Samsung KNOX. Users can activate Samsung KNOX with ease which allows them to run and store security-sensitive applications and data inside a protected execution environment called "container." The security inside the container is strengthened by system-level protection of Samsung KNOX against malware and phishing attacks as well as hacking attempts on physical devices when devices are stolen or lost. For instance, important personal pictures or video can be stored in the container with no worries for data leakage due to hacking. In addition, users may choose to store enterprise applications and data such as corporate email, contacts and calendar and allow the IT department to manage the container through EAS (Exchange ActiveSync Server). These features make the GALAXY Note 3 an ideal device for BYOD (Bring-Your-Own-Device to work)

Furthermore, the GALAXY Note 3 is equipped with an improved Find My Mobile feature that allows users to disable the phone when it is stolen or lost. With the enhanced user authentication, the technology prevents stolen mobile phones from being reset to factory settings, and allows users to remotely track or erase the data from their lost or stolen mobile phones.

Available in 32GB or 64GB internal storage along with an additional microSD card slot, the Samsung GALAXY Note 3 is set to launch starting from September 25 in more than 140 countries around the world. The Samsung GALAXY Note 3 will also be available in the U.S. later this year on AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and U.S. Cellular.

The magazine style UX allows users to organize their favorite resources in a dashboard and then access that conten. New design characteristics include a warm and textured back cover with stitching.

The device?s screen size also enables multitasking. With Multi Window, users will be able to run separate instances of the same application, and use an enhanced S Pen to drag and drop content from one window to another. Pen Window enables users to draw a window of any size on the screen, and instantly access unique in-application features such as YouTube or calculator.

With new Scrapbook capabilities, users can indicate any interesting content with the S Pen and organize it into individualized scrapbooks, creating a log of discussion points for a future work conversation, a wish list for new clothes or a home redesign project, or a personal favorites list.

S Note has been upgraded with a more intuitive interface. Users will have access to both note files and notepads, with the ability to use the S Pen to take handwritten notes. With Easy Chart, hand-drawn visualizations of data can be instantly transformed into more formal charts and graphs.

The new GALAXY Note 10.1 will also offer a host of content that complements the device?s entertainment properties. The Samsung Content Gifts include content from leading news sources such as Bloomberg Businessweek+, The New York Times, Autodesk Sketchbook for GALAXY for painting and sketching, a redesigned version of social broadcast network Twitter optimized for the device, and much more.

In addition, the GALAXY Note 10.1 (2014 Edition) will also include a Samsung Apps widget that will direct users to additional beneficial content provided by Samsung. The widget will live on the home screen and include a "Special Offer for GALAXY" section that will highlight unique, country-based content for users.

As in the case of the Galaxy Note 3, the new GALAXY Note 10.1 comes with enhanced privacy and security protection provided by Samsung KNOX.

The GALAXY Note 10.1 (2014 Edition) will come in three connectivity options: WiFi Only, WiFi and 3G, WiFi and LTE, available in 16/32/64GB plus Micro SD. Comes with two color options, Jet Black and Classic White, the GALAXY Note 10.1 (2014 Edition) will be offered globally and will be available starting from Q3, 2013.

The availability of each Samsung Hub and Google service may differ by country.

All functionality, features, specifications, and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.